Thursday, 6 Feb 2025

Departmental Contracts

Questions (65)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

65. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the details of each time his Department, or public bodies under the aegis of his Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of his Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3782/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I wish to advise the Deputy that the following contracts with consultants were entered into in 2023 and 2024.

Please note that the surveys completed by Behaviour and Attitudes marked with * are fully recoupable from the Banks.

The survey completed by OECD marked with # is partially recoupable from the CCPC. They pay 50% of the costs, and the department covers the other 50%.

Year	Name of consultancy firm	Purpose of consultancy contract / description of services enlisted	Contract value (VAT exclusive)	Duration of Contract
2023	Bernie Gray	HR Manager Interview Board	€1,854	2 days
2023	Specialisterne	Workplace Assessment and ongoing support for employees	€4,150	1 year
2023	G Harford Consulting	Preliminary & Post review meetings, Workshop preparation & delivery x 2 sessions (Preparation of a draft charter)	€3,690	2 days
2023	KPMG	Produce a report re tax treatment of ReBo pensioners	€8,500.00	6 months
2023	KPMG	HBFI MEOP Concentration Limits Product assessment	€30,000.00	6 months
2023	Rothschild & Co	Privatisation advisor/Financial Advisor re management/disposal of State's Shareholding in the Banking Sector	nil cost to Department	12 months
2023	Dr Donal de Buitléir	Leading an external examination of the Standard Fund Threshold regime	Payment on pro rata basis in line with fees for fees paid for chairing a Category 2 Non-Commercial State Board (€20,520)	1.5 years
2023	Behaviour and Attitudes*	Credit Demand Surveys and Consumer Sentiment Surveys	€124,650 per annum	2 years
2023	ESRI	Campaign to Raise Awareness and Promote Customer Switching of Financial Products	€170,370	2 years
2024	Ipsos Behaviour & Attitudes	To collect data for the Joint Harmonised European Union Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys	€175,000	21 Months
2024	Grant Thornton	Provision of a Risk Assessment Partner (RAP) for national and sectoral risk assessments in relation to anti-money laundering & counter terrorist financing in Ireland	€1.2 million	12 Months
2024	Better Boards	HR External Review	€3,150	6 weeks
2024	G Harford Consulting	Workshop for Gender Equity Network Committee	€750	1 day
2024	Patricia Byron consultancy	European Bank of Reconstruction and Development – Interview Panel service including shortlisting and interviews for Director of EBRD.	€703	1.5 days
2024	Central Bank of Ireland	Financial Stability Group – Crisis Simulation Exercise	€13,017.50	1 year
2024	OECD#	Development of a National Financial Literacy Strategy for Ireland	€155,976	1 year
2024	Indecon	Review of taxation of share based remuneration	€129,000	7 Months
2024	Bernie Mooney	Development of a National Financial Literacy Strategy for Ireland	€15,175 to December 2024	6 Months with the possibility of an extension

In respect of Bodies under the Aegis of my Department, it was not possible for the following three bodies, the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), the Central Bank of Ireland, and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, to respond to the information request in the time available, and therefore they will provide the information to the Deputy in line with Standing Orders.

The remaining bodies under the aegis of my Department that enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024 have provided the information requested as follows:

Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI)

To note: For multi-year framework agreements, amounts shown are call-offs under those framework agreements in the relevant years.

HBFI appoints Legal, Monitoring Surveyor, Valuation and Other Technical firms as part of the due diligence process on each of its loan transactions, with the costs being recovered from the relevant borrower. These costs have been excluded from the following.

Contracts awarded by the NTMA which include services provided to HBFI under a Service Level Agreement between HBFI and the NTMA are also excluded from the following:

Year	Consultancy Firm	Purpose of contract	Contract Value (VAT exclusive)	Contract duration
2023	Willis Tower Watson	Insurance Advisory (awarded under existing Framework Agreement)	€82,683	3 Years plus 1 year extension option (Contract awarded 2021)
2023	KPMG	Benchmarking New Product	€5,000	< 1 year
2023	McCann FitzGerald	Corporate Legal Advice (awarded under existing Framework Agreement)	€67,831	3 Years plus 2 x 1 year extension options (Contract awarded 2019)
2024	Willis Tower Watson	Insurance Advisory (awarded under existing Framework Agreement)	€73,618	3 Years plus 1 year extension (Contract awarded 2021)
2024	KPMG	Market Economy Operator Principle (MEOP and Funding Report	€50,000	1 year plus 1 year extension option (Contract awarded 2024)
2024	McCann FitzGerald	Corporate Legal Advice (awarded under existing Framework Agreement)	€50,608	3 Years plus 2 x 1 year extension options (Contract awarded 2024)

Investor Compensation Company Limited

Year	Consultancy Firm	Purpose of contract	Contract Value (VAT exclusive)	Contract duration
2023	Frontier Economics	ICCL Levy Analysis	€40,000	1 year
2023	Waystone	IT Security Works	€20,000	1 year
2024	Board Excellence	Board Evaluation	€17,000	1 year
2024	Waystone	Chief Information Security Officer	€45,000 per annum	5 years

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation

Year	Consultancy Firm	Purpose of contract	Contract Value (VAT exclusive)
2023	A&L Goodbody LLP	Various legal matters	€2,027,433
2023	A&L Goodbody LLP	IBRC liquidation	€160,148
2023	A&L Goodbody LLP	IBRC Commission of Investigation	€111,817
2023	A&L Goodbody LLP	eDiscovery services	€3,675
2023	Arthur Cox LLP	Various legal matters	€473,488
2023	Cathal Young	Notarisation services	€580
2023	Cunningham Devlin Communications	PR advisory services	€1,700
2023	Dentons Ireland LLP	Various legal matters	€310,534
2023	Dillon Eustace	Various legal matters	€2,690
2023	DLA Piper Ireland LLP	Various legal matters	€24,213
2023	Gallistone Limited	Asset management services	€54,050
2023	Heward Mills	Data Protection consultancy	€30,500
2023	Interpath Advisory	IBRC liquidation	€1,746,084
2023	KPMG	IBRC liquidation	€2,872,372
2023	KPMG	Professional fee - Tax	€240,393
2023	KPMG	Professional fee - Payroll	€4,500
2023	Magnusson	Various legal matters	€5,046
2023	McCann Fitzgerald	Various legal matters	€2,618,475
2023	McGarrigle Legal	Various legal matters	€358,906
2023	Ogier	Various legal matters	€12,803
2023	Pembroke Privacy	Data Protection consultancy	€712
2023	Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP	Various legal matters	€17,076
2023	RDJ LLP	Various legal matters	€9,731
2023	RSM Ireland	Liquidation services	€5,206
2023	Up Lane Ltd	Asset management services	€33,750
2023	Walkers	Various legal matters	€44,980
2023	William Fry	Various legal matters	€14,601
2023	Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom	Various legal matters	€199,133
2024	A&L Goodbody LLP	Various legal matters	€524,890
2024	A&L Goodbody LLP	IBRC liquidation	€553,985
2024	Arthur Cox LLP	Various legal matters	€783,890
2024	Browne Jacobson LLP	Various legal matters	€23,767
2024	Cathal Young	Notarisation services	€50
2024	De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V	Various legal matters	€43,522
2024	Dentons Ireland LLP	Various legal matters	€31,602
2024	DLA Piper LLP	Various legal matters	€12,700
2024	Envisage Cloud	Accountancy Software Consultancy	€9,550
2024	Grant Thornton	Professional fee - Tax	€25,000
2024	HewardMills	Data Protection consultancy	€2,000
2024	HNH Partners Limited	Professional Fee - Tax	€14,472
2024	Interpath Advisory	IBRC liquidation	€3,160,094
2024	KC Legal	Various legal matters	€5,556
2024	KPMG	IBRC liquidation	€14,920
2024	KPMG	Professional fee - Tax	€135,109
2024	KPMG	Professional fee - Payroll	€10,470
2024	KPMG	Professional fee - Other	€4,675
2024	McCann Fitzgerald	Various legal matters	€1,793,257
2024	McGarrigle Legal	Various legal matters	€563,707
2024	Pembroke Privacy	Data Protection consultancy	€22,503
2024	RSM Ireland	Liquidation services	€34,404
2024	Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom	Various legal matters	€127,919
2024	Up Lane Limited	Assrt Management services	€90,000
2024	Walkers Ireland	Various legal matters	€2,902

Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General

Year	Consultancy Firm	Purpose of contract	Value (ex VAT)	Contract duration
2024	Crowe Ireland	Quality Review of Strategic Audits	€27,456	2 years (possible 1 year extension foreseen)
2024	J. Riordan	External quality review of audits	€700	2 days input
2024	J. Riordan	External quality review of audits	€1,400	4 days input
2024	Wilcox Assessments	Employee educational assessments	€860	1 month
2024	Crowe Ireland	Assistance in preparing the Office’s next five year strategic plan	€39,100	6 months
2024	Kennedy Safety	Fire & safety building audit and assessment	€3,990	1 month
2024	Plain English	Development of a language style guide	€6,850	1 year
2024	M. Mulligan	Review relating to a special report or chapter	€4,377	1 month
2024	Crowe Ireland	External quality review of audits	€72,000	9 months
2024	DHKN	Outsourcing of financial audits	€1,357,529	3 years
2024	Forvis Mazars	Outsourcing of financial audits	€271,800	3 years
2024	Sumer Accountants	Outsourcing of financial audits	€630,000	3 years
2024	Forvis Mazars	Outsourcing of financial audits	€288,450	3 years
2023	Morgan McKinlay	Recruitment services	€83,718 paid to date (demand driven no contract value)	2 years
2023	P. Kinsley	Review relating to a special report or chapter	€22,464	18 months
2023	Zero Carbon	Energy audit of building premises	€4,500	1 month
2023	Acacia	External expert in relation to an audit	€10,400	6 months
2023	Insight Statistical Consulting	Independent review of statistical analysis	€6,400	1 month
2023	Brendan Moran	Updating and creating Microsoft Office templates & training on the same	€9,100	9 months
2023	Kovara	Investigation of anomalous power usage office premises	€8,865	1 year
2023	J. Riordan	External quality review of audits	€3,850	11 days input
2023	Mazars	Internal Audit	€45,000	3 years

Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland

Year	Consultancy Firm	Purpose of contract	Contract Value (VAT exclusive)	Contract duration
2023	PWC	On-Lender Reviews	€ 24,240	3 years
2024	Fexco Limited	Organisation Review	€39,000	8 weeks
2024	Grant Thornton	Advisory – 5-year Strategic Plan	€33,690	8 weeks
2024	Institute of Directors Ireland	External Board Evaluation	€15,250	1 year

Tax Appeals Commission

Year	Consultancy Firm	Purpose of contract	Contract Value (VAT exclusive)	Contract duration
2023	Crowleys DFK	Provision of internal audit services	€23,236	2 year
2024	Crowleys DFK	Provision of internal audit services	€32,656	1 year

Credit Review Office

Year	Consultancy Firm	Purpose of contract	Value (ex VAT)	Contract duration
2023	Financial Consultant Reviewers *	Financial	€ 44,347.73	4 year contract
2023	Aspire Digital	Media	€ 7,850.00	2 year contract
2023	Bossanova	Printing	€ 1,200.00	As Required
2023	Deloitte	Audit Services	€ 4,000.00	2 year contract

2024	Financial Consultant Reviewers*	Financial	€ 49,855.00	4 year contract
2024	Aspire Digital	Media	€ 9,540.00	2 year contract
2024	Bossanova	Printing	€ 120.00	As Required

National Asset Management Agency (NAMA)

Year	Consultancy Firm	Purpose of contract	Value (ex VAT)	Contract duration
2024	Brady Shipman Martin	Appointment of a Planning Consultant to prepare a Planning Status & Asset Management Report for Lands	€9.300.00	Q4 2025
2024	Auxilion Ireland Ltd	Project Manager Wind-down	€219,555	Q4 2025
2023	Expleo	Senior Project Manager Change Management Project	€220,940	Completed
2023	Cubematch	PMO for Change Management Project	€130,020	Completed

Departmental Reports

Questions (66)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

66. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance when the report ‘Funds Sector 2030: A Framework for Open, Resilient & Developing Markets’ will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3806/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Finance

'Funds Sector 2030: A Framework for Open, Resilient & Developing Markets’ has been a wide-ranging review of the funds and asset management sector.

Following consideration by Government, the report was published on 22 October 2024.

Further details can be found on the following page of the Department of Finance website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef482-funds-sector-2030-a-framework-for-open-resilient-developing-markets/

The recently published Programme for Government has committed to progress and publish an implementation plan for consideration in Budget 2026 taking into consideration the Funds Review recommendations to unlock retail investment and opportunities to grow this sector in Ireland.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (67)

Ged Nash

Question:

67. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reasons his Department has changed its policy on blended work for staff of his Department; the rationale for the change; what it will mean for staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3840/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Finance

I wish to inform the Deputy that there has been no change to my Department's Blended Working Policy.

My Department published its Blended Working Policy in July 2022 which was developed in line with the parameters of the Civil Service Blended Working Framework.

The Department adopts a flexible and sustainable approach to remote working which allows staff to do so on a blended basis to balance both personal and work commitments.

The key principles of my Department's Blended Working Policy are as follows:

1. The Office will remain the principal workplace;

2. A ‘fluid and flexible” approach to blended working;

3. Attendance patterns in the office are driven by business needs;

4. Remote working for two or three days a week (or less remote working when required for business needs);

5. There is no 100% remote working option available;

6. Anchor day(s) as necessary where team/Unit/Division would be in the office together as required;

7. Sufficient flexibility to enable staff who wish to attend the office 100% to do so.

In line with the above principles attendance patterns in the office are driven by business needs and remote working is available for the majority of staff two or three days a week (or less remote working when required for business needs).

The ability to successfully meet the needs of the business and ensure the highest level of strategic policy advice is available for Government is the foremost consideration in assessing the levels of blended working available to our staff.

Attendance in the office is critical to allow for face-to-face interaction within teams, to assist new staff with adapting to their new role and work environment and collaboration with colleagues and to ensure the highest level of services are delivered to our stakeholders.

Fiscal Policy

Questions (68, 69)

Sinéad Gibney

Question:

68. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Finance whether Irish sovereign wealth and investment funds have investments in illegally occupied territories in Palestine and the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3900/25]

View answer

Sinéad Gibney

Question:

69. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Finance whether Irish sovereign wealth and investment funds have investments in Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3901/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.

I am answering these questions on the basis that the Deputy is referring to the possibility of direct investments in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Golan Heights by the three funds managed by the NTMA i.e. ISIF, the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund.

In respect of ISIF’s geographic categorisation of investments, ISIF’s holdings are classified by country (in line with industry standard) as per the Annual Report.

I can say that in respect of Israel, ISIF’s holdings as outlined in the NTMA’s most recent Annual Report at 31 December 2023, are €1.96 million in quoted equity investments in 9 Israeli companies and €2.62m in 9 holdings of Israeli sovereign debt.

The UN maintains a database of business enterprises involved in certain specified activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Businesses in the Golan Heights do not fall within the scope of the current UN Database. At the end of 2023, ISIF’s direct investments in companies on the UN database totalled approximately €4.2 million in 11 companies. ISIF’s indirect investments included 8 companies totalling approximately €9.4 million.

As announced by the NTMA in April 2024, ISIF has divested from six companies on the UN Database in which it had investments with a total value of approximately €2.95m. The six companies were Bank Hapoalim BM; Bank Leumi-le Israel BM; Israel Discount Bank Ltd; Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd; First International Bank Ltd and Rami Levi Chain Stores Ltd.

For completeness, I should say that the Deputy will be aware of engagement in the previous Dáil on the Private Members Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill, 2023. This Bill proposed the use of the UN Human Rights Council Database of companies referenced in UN Human Rights Council Resolution 31/36, produced by the UN Human Rights Council on 12 February 2020 as a basis for divestment by ISIF.

ISIF’s modest holdings of Israeli sovereign debt as per the 2023 Annual Report total €2.62 million as part of its global portfolio is wholly consistent with Ireland’s policy of differentiation between the state of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.

The Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund were statutorily established in July 2024 and currently operate under an interim investment strategy. The investment strategy for both funds reflects a low risk appetite permitting only highly rated liquid sovereign and quasi sovereign bonds. Neither the Future Ireland Fund nor the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund have any investments in Palestine nor the Golan Heights as of 31st December 2024.

Question No. 69 answered with Question No. 68.

Office of Public Works

Questions (70)

Joanna Byrne

Question:

70. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an urgent update on the work undertaken by the Office of Public Works to identify a permanent driving test centre site in Drogheda; what communication has taken place between the Office of Public Works and the Road Safety Authority in the past 12 months; if he will outline the potential sites that have been considered or investigated in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3679/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

The Office of Public Works (OPW) have responsibility for providing office accommodation for a large number of Government Departments and State Agencies within the State, including the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The RSA have a number of priority locations around the country where accommodation for a Driving Test Centre (DTC) is required, including within the Drogheda area.

In the last 12 months, the OPW have requested and received a brief of requirements for a DTC in Drogheda from the RSA. However, the process of identifying a suitable location to site a DTC in Drogheda has been challenging, given that any proposed location must be located on a suitable test route, be as free from traffic congestion as possible and provide dedicated parking. These constraints have resulted in limited options being available.

The OPW will continue to review its portfolio of owned and leased buildings, as well as any opportunities that might arise in the commercial property market, in an effort to identify suitable accommodation for a DTC in the Drogheda area.

Infectious Diseases

Questions (71)

Paul Murphy

Question:

71. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the Office of Public Works was informed of the deaths from bubonic plague (also known as the Black Death) of monkeys at Dublin Zoo in the Phoenix Park in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3698/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

The Office of Public Works was not informed by Dublin Zoo of this matter.

Artificial Intelligence

Questions (72)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

72. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by his Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programmes or Department operations are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3713/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

In 2024, my Department spent €166,095 (inc. VAT) on the Future Tech project which involved research in the field of AI for translation.

Additionally, €48,954 (inc. VAT) was spent on research in developing the refreshed AI Guidelines for Public Services.

OGCIO spent €120,000 (inc. VAT) on AI related research and development in 2024, largely exploring the potential of chatbot technology.

As part of our work to support the Better Public Services and related Life Events programmes, the OGCIO is building out the building blocks that make up Government as a Platform.

One of those building blocks is AI-oriented and ahead of any significant investment of development time and effort in area of AI, we undertook some research and development in 2024 of GenAI technology that could be made available to the public service. That was focussed on exploring the potential of a chatbot AI agent (aka HubChat) to people to access government information already in the public domain.

OGCIO has a budget of €500,000 to progress AI related developments in 2025.

I hope this satisfies the Deputy.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (73)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

73. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the details of each time his Department, or public bodies under the aegis of his Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of his Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3788/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 51(1)(b).

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables at the link below in respect of my Department and the bodies under its aegis.. This includes the name of the consultants and the purpose, value and duration of each contract.

Please note that I am advised that the State Laboratory did not enlist the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024. Furthermore, I am also advised that the Office of Public Works will respond to you separately in respect of this Question.

I trust that the Deputy will find this information of assistance.

Departmental Contracts

Planning Issues

Questions (74)

Colm Burke

Question:

74. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to confirm when a project (details supplied), which has been granted planning permission can proceed; if this project has been advertised in order that tenders can be submitted; when it is likely that the tender process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3816/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

The Irish Coast Guard, a Division of the Department of Transport, has 44 Units based in 58 coast guard stations. The Coast Guard building programme, which includes the provision of new or upgraded facilities at a number of locations across the country, is managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the Department of Transport. These projects are funded by the Department of Transport and the Department is the Approving Authority,

The estimated costs for the development of a new coast guard station at Castlefreake, Co. Cork have been submitted by the OPW to the Department of Transport for approval as per the Infrastructure Guidelines. The OPW is awaiting approval from the Department of Transport before proceeding with the detailed design and tender process. Until such approval is provided an estimate of timelines to tender and contract placement cannot be made.

National Development Plan

Questions (75)

Alan Kelly

Question:

75. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the new national development plan will be announced. [3827/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

The Programme for Government sets out the clear ambition to prioritise the delivery of transformative, critical and growth-enhancing infrastructure over the next 5 years.

Stable, long-term delivery of essential infrastructure is a priority for the Government, in addition to ensuring projects are delivered as early as possible and within budget.

To support these goals, the Government, led by my Department, will prioritise an early review of the National Development Plan to be completed by summer 2025.

Trade Data

Questions (76)

Alan Kelly

Question:

76. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of trade between Hong Kong and Ireland in 2023 and for the first half of 2024. [3763/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Central Statistics Office compiles statistical data in relation to Goods Exports and Imports. According to the CSO in 2023 Ireland’s goods trade with Hong Kong was valued at €625 million, with goods exports from Ireland of €544 million and goods imports of €81 million.

The principal goods exports from Ireland to Hong Kong in 2023 were in the following categories Stents, Pacemakers, Digital Media etc, Computers, Computer Parts and Storage Devices, and Medical & Pharmaceutical Products.

The principal goods imports from Hong Kong to Ireland in 2023 were in the categories, Telecoms & Sound Equipment, Misc plastic, Stents, and Electronic components and Integrated Circuits.

Services Imports from Hong Kong in 2023 were valued at €1,055 million but the value of services exports in 2023 is not available due to confidentiality reasons.

In the first half of 2024 Jan – July the value of goods trade with Hong Kong was €393 million up 13% in comparison to January – July 2023. With Goods imports of €31 million down – 37% in comparison to January to July 2023. The Service data for 2024 is not available at this time.

Artificial Intelligence

Questions (77)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

77. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by his Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programmes or Department operations are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3705/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

My Department has provided funding to the OECD to participate in a study called: "Generative AI: a solution to the SME skills challenge". €35,000 was provided in 2024 and €25,000 will be provided in 2025.

No other funding was spent in the 2024 fiscal year on artificial intelligence systems or research. Funding allocations for the year ahead have not been finalised. Funding will be allocated on a case by case basis as projects arise.

No programmes or Department operations are currently conducted using artificial tools. One of my Department’s Offices, the Companies Registration Office (CRO), uses machine learning to scan digitised annual returns to check whether they are signed in the appropriate places. This technology has proven to be very effective in delivering processing efficiencies for the CRO. The CRO received over 240,000 Annual Returns in 2022, all of which were processed using this signature recognition facility.

My Department and the CRO also collaborated on an artificial intelligence project to scan CRO annual returns and derive semantic meaning from the data. Work on data analysis from this project is ongoing.

Workplace Relations Commission

Questions (78)

Alan Kelly

Question:

78. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated full-year costs to double the number of Workplace Relation Commission inspectors. [3766/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The WRC Inspectorate is staffed by civil servants of my Department. WRC inspectors are ranked at Executive Officer (EO) Inspector and Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Inspector Team Managers (ITMs).

Using the Public Spending Code calculation, the yearly cost of recruiting an executive officer inspector for the WRC would be approximately €73,057 PPC. WRC inspectors also qualify for an allowance of €9,862 PPC, bringing the cost of recruiting one EO inspector to approximately €82,919 per annum. The cost of 70 inspectors at EO level is approximately €5,804,330.

WRC HEO/ITM inspectors also qualify for an allowance of €9,862 PPC, bringing the cost of recruiting one HEO/ITM inspector to approximately €108,546 per annum. The cost of 10 additional HEO ITM inspectors is €1,085,460.

The total cost of doubling the number of WRC inspectors is approximately €6,889,790 consisting of an additional 70 Inspectors and 10 Inspector Team Managers.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (79)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

79. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of each time his Department, or public bodies under the aegis of his Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of his Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3780/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.

I refer to Parliamentary Question 3780/25 answered on the 6th February 2025: To ask the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Employment the details of each time his Department, or public bodies under the aegis of his Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of his Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The response indicated that additional time would be needed to obtain the requested information. This information has now been collated and is set out in tabular form attached.

My Department considers engaging consultancy services in cases where there is not the necessary expertise to deliver a project in-house, in cases where an external assessment is deemed essential, or in cases where a project must be completed within a short time scale, and although the expertise or experience may be available in-house, performing the task would involve a prohibitive opportunity cost. My Department complies with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's guidelines for engagements of consultants by the civil service, having regard to public procurement guidelines.

In respect of the agencies that come within my remit, they are statutorily independent in their functions and this is an operational matter for them. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply.

Consultancy Services

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (80)

Peter 'Chap' Cleere

Question:

80. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education for an update on emergency works applications for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3617/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted 2 applications for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for roof works and life safety systems.

The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation. The scope of works sought by the school in question was in excess of this on both applications and the school was informed that a revised scope of works and associated cost breakdown would be required.

In respect of both application the requested information has been received and is currently being reviewed. Once this has been completed the school will be notified of a decision on this application.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (81)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

81. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education for an update on the critical works needed at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3619/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for roof works.

During the course of the review of this application it was noted that the roof in question was completed in 2016. Given the relatively short period of time since the roof was completed the school was advised to engage with the original design team involved in the design and construction of the roof. This was to ensure value for money and ascertain why the roof appears to have failed after a short space of time and what remedial actions may be required to address this issue. The school has appealed this decision, but the Department is not aware of whether the school has had any engagement with the original design team, the EWS team will engage further with the school in respect of this issue this week.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (82)

James O'Connor

Question:

82. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3653/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Cork Education and Training Board (CETB).

The project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural detailed design process. The Stage 2a report has been received into my department and the review has been completed. A stage meeting has been scheduled to take place in Q1 2025 with CETB, the Design Team and the school authorities.

Once the Stage 2a is approved by my department, the next step will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, the project will then proceed to tender and construction in due course.

While the project is at this stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project at this juncture however CETB as the devolved body will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep them informed of progress.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (83)

James O'Connor

Question:

83. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3654/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 6 General classrooms, 2 classroom SEN base, 1 Technical Graphics room, 1 Woodwork room, 2 Science rooms and shared preparation areas, 1 Home Economics room under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.

I am pleased to advise that this project received my departments approval to progress to Stage 3 (Tender) in October 2024 and confirmation issued to the school authority. It is now within the remit of the school authority to progress this project accordingly.

My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance on this much needed project.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (84)

James O'Connor

Question:

84. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3655/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 9 General classrooms, 4 SET rooms, 1 Music room, 1 DCG room, 1 Science lab with Preparation area, 1 Art room, 1 Project store and a 3 Classroom Special Education Needs (SEN) base under the Additional Schools Accommodation scheme. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority.

I can confirm that this project received my departments approval to go to Stage 2a (detailed design) of the architectural planning design process in September 2024. The Department understands from recent correspondence that the design team is currently developing the Stage 2a report for submission to my Department. This Stage 2a process must be completed before a planning application for the project can be lodged.

Once the Stage 2a report is received and its review concluded my department will be in contact directly with the school authority to advise how best to progress this important project.